Valve.



I. W. GAMBLE.

VALVE.

- APPLICATION FILED MAR. 19, 1912- iN VE N TOR Patented 0013. 27, 1914.

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ATTORNEY J, w. GAMBLE,

VALVE.

AYPLICATION FILED MAB.19. 1912.

Patented Oct. 2'7, 1914.

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INVENTOR wnwsssss J. W. GAMBLE. VALVE. APPLICATION FILED 111113.19,1912. 1,114,978. Patented 0ct.27,1914.

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ATTORNEY 9 w k A .5 3 1 3 Y N, C V V Q UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH W. GAMBLE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLV ANIA,- ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH S.

LOVERING WHARTON, WI LLIAM S. HALLOWELL, AND JOHN C. JONES, ALL OF PHIL-ADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AS FIRM OF HARRISON SAFETY BOILER WORKS, OI

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

VALVE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 27, 1914.

Application filed March 19, 1912. Serial No. 684,786.-

citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding in the city and county of Philadeh phia, in the State ofPennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement inValves, of which the following is a true and exact description,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a partthereof.

My present invention relates particularly to valves of the kind known asmulti-port valves in which the inlet and outlet coinpartments of asingle valve casing connected by a plurality of valve seated ports, andindividual valve disks or valve members proper are provided for each ofthese ports.

My invention comprises general fetures of construction and arrangementdevised with the object of providing a simple and effective valvemechanism of the kind described comprising features or" construction andarrangement whereby the separable sections of the valve mechanism may beassembled in dill'erent ways in order to change the relative location ofdifferent parts or" the valve mechanism, and comprising provisions forautomatically operating the movable valve members in response to fluidpressure variations. The last mentioned provisions are particularlyadapted to in sure positive movements. of the movable valve members inresponse to slight differences in the pressure otthe fluid passingthrough the valve casing, thus fitting the valve vfor use as a reliefvalve for a heater or condenser and for? like uses in which the pressureof the fluid entering the valve casing fluctuates through a small rangein the neighborhood of the pressure of the atmos: phere and the movablevalve members need to close when the pressure of the entering fluidbecomes equal to or falls below the pressure of the atmosphere.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention,however, and the advantages possessed by it, reference should be had tothe accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which I haveillustrated and described embodied.

Of the drawings, Figure l is an elevation partly in section of one formof valve mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention,Fig. 2 is a section on a several forms in which my invention may belarger scale than Fig. 1 of a pilot valve emplayed in the mechanismshown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a view takensimilarly to Fig. 1 showinganother form of valve mechanism; Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of amodified portion of the valve shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5

l is a sectional elevation of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3taken on a larger of a modification of a portion of the valve mechanismshown in Figs. 5 and 6, and Fig. 9 IS a section taken on the line 99 ofFig. 8.

The valve mechanism shown in Figs. 1

and 2 comprises a main valve casing A. The- 30 casing, as shown, isdivided into two main parts separated by a diaphragm member B. Thelatter divides the interior ofthe valve easing into upper and lowercompartments (0' and a, respectively. The member B is formed with aplurality of valve seated portsB and supports the valve mechanismcontrolling these ports. This valve mechanisin as shown comprises a'valve disk or valve member proper, C, for each port,

which is provided at its underside with'a piston C working in acorresponding cylinder 'B supported by the member B. Each valve member Cis provided at its upper side with a stem C having an enlarged head C atits upper end. The stems C of the various valve members 0 pass throughIa vertically movable crosshead D which is formed with a centrallythreaded aperture receiving a screw spindle F. The latter'is journaledat its lower end in the member B and at its upper end. in. a bracket G-securfd to the upper section of the valve casing. it its upper end abovethe bracket G, the valve member F has secured to it a bevel gear wheel Fmeshing with a bevel gear H' car- Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation 70ried by an operating shaft H journaled in the upper section of the valvecasing and provided externally of the valve casing with an operatinghandle. Surrounding each valve stem and extending between thecorresponding valve disk and the crosshead D is a helical spring E, thefunction of Y which is to normally hold the corresponding v, pipe K.

valve disk against its seat. By rotating the shaft H the crosshead maybe raised and lowered to correspondingly adjust the tension of all ofthe. tension springs E. The crosshead may thus be lifted to engage theheads C on the valve stem C and thereby positively move the valvemembers G into their open. positions when occasion requires.

Normally, however, the valve members C are opened by the admission ofpressure fluid to the lower ends of the various cylinders LB? thispressure fluid being supplied by a pressure pipe I controlled by a fluidpressure motor valve J of known type. The valve J, in the form shown inFig. 2, comprises a movable balanced valve member J controlling the flowthrough the casing of the valve and having its stem J urged in the valveclosing direction by a spring J and adapted to be moved in the oppositedirection by a diaphragm J when the pressure is sufficiently high in thechamber J of which the diaphragm forms the upper wall.

' between the compartments a and a; On a positions.

use in the pressure in the chamber a such that the diaphragm J 4 movesthe valve memberJ' into its open position, the pres sure fluid admittedthrough the pipe I to the lower ends of the cylinders 13 forcesthepistons G upward thus lifting the valve disks C and opening the portsB. When, thereafter, the pressure in the compartment a falls to such anextent that the valve J closes, the valve disks return to their closedTo permit this closure of the valve disks C when the valve J closes,provisions should be made for then obtaining the. desiredreduction inpressure in the lower endgkh'ijf'the cylinder B With the mechanism shownthis reduction in the pressure is "brought about by the leakageconstantly taking place between the pistons C and the walls of thesurrounding cylinders B Where, as is the case when the valve mechanismis used as a relief valve for condensers, heaters and the like;.'it isundesirable to permit air to leak into the main valve casing, I preferto employ steam or water,

rather than air,'as the pressure fluid supplied through the pipe I.Compressed air may of course be employed as this pressure fluid when theleakage of air into the main valve casing A is not obj eetionable orwhere the parts are so arranged that such leakage cannot occur.

The valve mechanism disclosed may be made highly sensitive, as thesimple and sensitive pilot valve mechanism. J can readily be maderesponsive to very slight. variations in the pressure fluid admitted tothe chamber J and the pressure of the fluid supplied to the cylinders Bwhen the valve J opens, may be made ample to effect rapid and positiveopening movements of the valve disks C. It is apparent moreover that if,for any cause, pressure fluid 'is not' supplied to the cylinders B toopen the valve disks at the proper time, the valve diskswillnevertheless be opened by the pressure in the chamber a as soon asthat pressure rises high enough to overcome the weight of the valvedisks and the action of the loading springs E. In such'case the valvemechanism described will serve to 'limit the maximum pressure in thechamber a and of cpurse will close as ordinary check valves to "preventa flow from the chamber a back into thechamber a. The valve is thusadmirably adapted for use as a flow valve where it is, desired tomaintain a low pressure or vacuum in the chamber a. By maln'ngthe valveseat and valve supporting member B sepa-e rate from the valve casing,as'm the profer-red construction illustrated, it is possible to readilymachine this member and to mount on it the valve mechanism supported byit priorto the assembly of the member B in the valve casing of which itforms a part.

In the modification shown in Fig. 3, the

valve casing AA is divided into three se ctlons and is internallyseparated into a cen- -tral inlet compartment (1, a lower outlet compartment a, and an upper compartment a by diaphragm members BA and L,the diaphragm BA being interposed between the lower and middle sectionsof the valve casing and the member L being interposed between the middleand upper sections. The member BA is formed with valve seated ports Beach controlled by an individual valve disk CA. Each valve disk CA hassecured to its underside a piston C which works in a correspondingcylinder A integrally formed as shown with the lower section of thevalve casing AA. The lower section of the valve casing AA is formed witha pressure chamber a communicating with the lower ends of the variouscylinders A through corresponding ports A. The

pressure fluid supply pipe I is connected to the chamber A andiscontrolled by a valve J, the diaphragm chamber of wh ch is connectedby a pipe K to the inlet cl unber a,

as in the construction first described. The member L is formed withcylindrical openings L coaxial with the ports B but somewhat greater indiameter than these ports. Each valve disk CA has connected to it apiston C working in the corresponding cylindrical passage L. The loadingsprings E for the valve disks CA are located within the chamber A andextend each between the correspondnig piston C and the crosshead DAlocated within the chamber a and ad justably connected through thethreaded spindle D to the valve casing.

The operation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3 is similar to that of themechanism shown in Figs. 1 and 2, as will be understood without furtherexplanation. It is to be noted, however, that while in the mechanismshown in Fig. 3 the pressure of the fluid in the compartment a of thevalve casing acting directly on the valve disks CA tends to hold thelatter seated the pressure exerted on the somewhat larger connectedpistons C gives a resultant lifting etlect on the valve disks CA whichwill open the ports B whenever this differential pressure effect exceedsthe downward pressure of the springs E. Inasmuch as the provision or theplurality of ports B" in a multiport valve mechanism of the kind underconsideration, makes it possible to open and close these ports withslight movements of the valve members controlling them, I employdiaphragms in lieu of the piston and cylinder connections heretoforedescribed. in Fig. 3 for instance I have illustrated a nmdification ofthe mechanism shown in head D of Fig. 1 is not provided with eX- ternaladjusting means but is fixed to the diaphragm member BB which correspondgenerally to the diaphragm member B of the constructions firstdescribed. As shown the v'alve'casing, by a pipe IA andgbranch pipes Ito the lower ends of the cylinders 13?". The particular channel B ifthere be more than one of these, which is most convenient is thusemployed. The cylinders B are not integral with the diaphragm BB but arescrewed into a flange portion- B" of the latter. The Va-lVG disk C,pistons C and springs E may be identical with thecorrespondingly markedparts of Fig. l.

The valve casing proper, shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 is formed in threeparts A, A and A The part A forms the portion of the casing at one sideof the diaphragmmember BB, and as shown, is substantially hemisphericalin shape except for the tubular flanged pipe connection projection A.The portion of the valve casing at the other side of the diaphragm BB issubstantially a counterpart of the casing part A except that it isformed of two sections A and A These parts are substantially similarspherical segments exceptthat the part A is pro vided with a tubular andflanged pipe'connection projection A The sections A and A? are formedwith meeting flanges A connected together by bolts 0 and the twosections A and A are formed With flanges A which unite to form acircumferential flange between which and the similar flange an axisperpendicular to the plane of the diaphragm BB, these tubular passagesmay be arranged at right angles to one another as shown in Fig. 7. Thiscapacity for adjustment of the inlet and outlet openings to the valvecasing gives a desirable freedom in the manner in which the pipingconnected to the valve may be disposed. The provisions of the separablecasing part A makes it possible to open the valve casing and get at themechanism located therein for adjustment or repairs without disturbingthe pipe connections to the sections A' and A of the valve casing.

With the valve casin shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the axes of the. clined tothe horizontal atan angle of 45 when the inlet and outlet connections tothe valve casing are horizontal or vertical as is usually the case.Under some conditions it may be desirable to have the axes of the valvemembers 0 vertical when the casing inlet and outlet connections arehorizontally or vertically disposed. This ma readily be accomplished byem loyin in lieu of the disks are indiaphragm BB such a. diaphragmmember BC as is shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The diaphragm member BC differsfrom the diaphragm member BB primarily in the fact that it is formedwith a central portion B which contains'the valve ports B and isinclined to the rim portion of the diaphragm member at an angle of andis connected to the latter by the warped web portion B. With thisconstruction the cylinders B valves 0, pistons C, etc., extendtransversely to the diaphragm portion B and transversely or parallel tothe inlet and outlet openings depending upon the manner in which thediaphragm and easing parts are assembled.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I have illustrated the manner in which adiaphragm suchas that shown in these figures or that shown in Fi s. 5 and 6 may beprovided with means or regulating the tension of the springs E andpositively opening the ports B in'a manner similar to that in which thisis accomplished with the valve mechanism of Fig. 1. In Figs. 8 and 9 asecond channel B in line with the channel B to which the pipes I and-IAare connected, is formed with an opening at its inner end to permit agear wheel Qlocated beneath the yoke D to be operated by a'shaft P,axially disposedin said secohd channel 13 This shaft is journaledadjacent its inner endv in a bearing ring P and passes through astuffing box P secured to the outer edge of the member BC. At its outerend the shaft P is pro videdwith, a handwheel I by which the shaft maybe rotated,.and at its inner end the shaft is formed with gear teethPflwhich mesh with the teeth of tlie gear wheel Q. The latter is securedto "the end of the threaded spindle FA journaledin the yoke D, and is inthreaded engagement with the crosshead D which may be identical with thecrosshead Dof Fig. 1. R, R, represents guides for the crosshead D whichare secured to the diaphragm portion 13*.

Whilein accordance with the provisions of the statutes I liaveillustrated and described the best f0 m of my. invention now known to meit will be apparent to those skilled in the art that changes may be madein the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spiritof my invention, and that und some conditions certain features of myinvention may be used with advantage Withouta corresponding use of otherfeatures. 1

Having now described my invention, what I claimas new and.desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1.- In a valve, the combination of a valve casing comprising a diaphragmseparating the interior of the casing into inlet and; outlet chambersand formed with a plurality of valve seated ports connecting saidchamhers, an individual valve for and controlling each of said ports, aseparate fluid operating device for each of said port controlling valveseachdevice comprising cofiperating piston and cylinder members securedone to the corresponding valve and the other to said diaphragm andprojecting into one of said chambers, and means including a commoncontrolling device located outside of said casing for supplying pressurefluid to the various valve actuating devices.

2. In a valve, the combination of a valve casing formed with a pluralityof valve seated ports, an individual valve for each port, a separatefluid pressure operating device located within the valve casing for eachof said valves, and means for supplying edge, valves contro ling theports in said member, fluid pressure operating means for saidvalvesmounted on sald member WllZ-llln the cas1ng,'and a pressure fluidsupplyconnection to said devices including an external pipe connected tosaid member-and leading away from the exposed external edge,

thereof. I

,4. In a valve, the combination of'a casing divided into sections, a.valve supporting member interposed between said sections and externallyexposed at its outer edge and formed with a plurality ofports, valvescontrolling the ports in said member and operating means thereforincluding a threaded operating member journaled in said valve supportingmember and extending'trans. versely thereto, and a second operatingmember journaled in said valvesup orting member and geared'to said threeed -op-- crating member and-projecting externally of the valve casingfrom the exposed edge of said supporting member.

5. In a valve, the combination of a casing divided into sections, aported valve sup? porting member interposed between said sections andexternally exposed at its outer edge, valves controlling the ports insaid member, spring loading mechanismfor the. valves, and an ad ustingdevice therefor mounted in said member and projecting externally of thevalve casing from the exposed-outer edge of, said member. 6. In a valve,the combination of a casing divided into sections, a ported valvesupporting member interposed between said sections and externallyexposed at its outer edge, valves controlling the ports in said member,spring loading mechanism for said neeted to said valve supperting memberand valves, an adjusting device therefor in said i member and projectingexternally of the valve casing from the exposed outer edge of saidmember, fluid pressure operating means for said valves mounted in saidmember and means for supplying pressure there- 1' 0 including anexternal supply pipe conleading away from the exposed outer edge 10thereof.

JOSEPH W. GAMBLE. Witnesses BOBMT G. CEJFDON, Jesse E, HARRIS.

